Domestic appliance



y 20, 195$ R. D. BREMER 2,835,780

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed July 2, 1956 S Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvrox. Robert D.Bramer His Attorney DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed July 2, 1956 v 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Robert D. Bremer Ill Mg Z His Aria/nay May 20, 1958 R. D. BREMER2,835,780

DOMESTIC. APPLIANCE Filed July 2, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

a4 2 as IN VEN TOR.

Robert 0. Bremer His Attorney United States Patent DOMESTIC APPLIANCERobert D. Brenner, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation,Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Application July 2, 1956,Serial No. 595,351

8 Claims. (Cl. 219-37) This invention relates to a domestic appliance,and more particularly to an electrical connector for detachablyconnecting the top surface heating unit of an electric range with avoltage supply.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector betweenthe top surface heating unit of a range and a voltage supply, theconnector being of the detachable type whereby the heating unit may bequickly connected or disconnected from the voltage supply.

A more specific object is to provide a tubular heating unit containing aplurality of heating elenients'with an electrical connector including aninsulator secured tothe tubular heating unit with a liquid-tight fit.

Another object is to provide a tubularelectricalheating unit containinga plurality of heating elements with anelectrical connector, and withmeans for preventing the flow of greaseand the like into the connectorand into the. tubular heating unit.

Further objects and advantages of the presentinvention will be-apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferrediformof the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top view of a surface heating-unit mounted in anelectrical range;

Figure 2 is an end view of the electrical connectorused with .theheating unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view partly of the heating unit of Figure 1 withthe.electricalsconnector shown in a section taken alongline 3--3 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional'view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an end view of a modified electrical connector made inaccordance with this invention;

Figure 6 is a side view of the modified'electrical connector made inaccordance with this invention showing the insulated parts of theconnector in a section taken along the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of an electrical connector that is insertableinto one of the insulating partscf the connector shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an end view of the connector shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of one of'the insulating parts shown inFigure 6 with the electrical connecting elements removed therefrom;

Figure 10 is a left side view of the insulator shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a right side view of the insulator shown in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a sectional view of an insulator that fits within theinsulator shown in Figure 9;

Figure 13 is a left side view of the insulator shown in Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a right side view of the insulator shown in Figure 12.

Referring now to Figure 1, a top surface electric heating unit generallydenoted by reference numeral 10 is ice shown mounted in a range top 11.The heating unit comprises a metal tube 13 which contains a fillermaterial of magnesium oxide 12 or other suitable filler material andthree electrical heating elements 14, as more particularly shown inFigure 4. The metal tube 13 is triangular-shaped in cross section over amajorportion of its length and has a fiat top surface that is adapted tosupport cooking utensils. The heating unit It is supported by a spider16 that is in turn supported by the range top 11. A bracket denoted byreference numeral 18 is secured to the underside of the range top in anysuitable manner and carries a conventional mounting clip 2t) thatencircles a downwardly extending cylindrically shaped end portion 22 ofthe tubular heating unit 10 in accordance with Well known practice. Theclip'zll provides a hearing for the portion 22 of the heating unit inorder that the portion 22 may rotate therein. With this arrangemenhtheheating unit lit may be moved out and away from therange top whendesired as the portion 22 is rotatable within clip 26.

The three heating elements 14 are made of coils of conventional highresistance wire and are connected together at their ends adjacent theclosed end 2-3 of tube 13-. The opposite ends of'heating elements 14 areconnected with relatively stiff metal leads or conductors 24, as moreparticularly shown in Figure 3'. The conductors 24 extend part-way intothe cylindrical portion 22 of the tube 13 and are connected'to theheating elements 4 at a point spaced'frorn the open end 26 of tube l3.it is to be understood that the portions of conductors 24 that extendinto tube 13 are embeddedin afiller' material of magnesium oxide or.other suitable material and that this tiller material extends to theopen end 26 of the tube 13. It should be noted that the open end 26 ofcylindrical tubular portion 22 is formed with an o 'twardly directedflange 28. This flange may be formed by bending tubular portion 22 toform the flange.

A flat metal plate 359 having a central aperture defined by a flangedportion 32 abuts the flange 23 as shown.- The flanged portion32encircles thelower portion 22 of heating unit ill. The plate 39 isalso provided with a terminal portion 34 that is used as a groundconnection. An insulator 36 is secured to platefitl by means of screws38. that are threaded into tapped holes 48* formed in the plate 3%. Theinsulator 36 has an annular internal shoulder 42 that abuts the flange28' of the heating element 10 when the screws 38 are tightened. Theflanged portion 32 of plate 30 also engages flange 2% when screws 38 aretightened. A silicone iubber Cs-ring i!- is located between plate 30 andflanged portion 28 and is compressed therebetween when screws 33 aretightened. it should be noted that the Q-ring as. also contacts an innerannular wall 4-6 of insulator 36. With the abovedescribed construction,any grease or other liquid flowing downwardly along the lower portion 22or heating unit 10 is precluded from entering the interior of insulator3d, and is also prevented from flowing by capillary action into theinterior of lower portion 22 of heating unit Moreover, the method ofconnecting the insulator to heating unit It] provides a. reliableconnection between the insulator 36 and. tubular portion 22 and one thatis easy to assemble.

The insulator 36 is provided with three longitudinally extending holesor slots 48. The conductors 24 that are connected with the heatingelements contained in heating unit in project into the slots 48. Eachconductor 24 is provided with a connector tab 50 that is preferablywelded or otherwise secured to each of the conductors 24. The connectortabs Ell coact with electrical connecting parts 52 that may be slippedonto the tabs $0 or pulled off fromthe tabsSl), as desired. Eachconnecting part 52 is provided with clip portions stunt engage Oppositesides of the tabs 50. The clip are slipped onto the tabs 50, but do notpreclude the removal thereof by the exertion of a slight pullingpressure on the connector parts 52. The connector parts 52 are securedto electrical conductors 56 by means of clip portions 58 and 60 that arebent downwardly to engage, respectively, the Wire conductor and theinsulating portion of conductor 56. The conductors 536 are connectablewith a conventional 220-volt three-Wire supply system in accordance withconventional practice. With the abovedescribed construction it isapparent that a detachable connection has been provided between avoltage supply and the top surface heating unit of an electric range.

Figure 6 illustrates a modified type of connector wherein a top surfaceheating unit 62 which is in all respects identical with heating unit 10shown in Figures 1 and 3 is provided with a lower tubular portion 68that has an outwardly directed flange 70. A flat metal plate 72 having acentral aperture encircles the tubular portion 68 and is secured to aninsulator 74 by means of screws 76. A silicone rubber O-ring seal 78 isprovided between the plate 72 and an annular shoulder 80 formed ininsulator 74. A plurality of stiff metal conductors 82 extend from theheating unit 62 and are located within longitudinally extending slots 84formed in insulator 74. Each conductor 82 is provided with a connectortab 86 that is welded or otherwise secured to conductor 82. Theinsulator 74 has a counter bore 88 that is adapted to receive a secondinsulating part 90. The second insulating part 90 has a plurality oflongitudinally extending holes or slots 92, and each slot 92 is providedwith an electrical connecting part portions 54 are 7 so designed as togrip the connector tabs when they 94. The electrical connecting part 94has a clip portion 96 that engages opposite sides of connector tabs 86.The connecting parts 94 are also provided with a downwardly struck lug100 and with a second lug 102. The lug 100 engages a shoulder 104 thatis located normal to longitudinally extending slot 92. The downwardlyextending lug 102 engages a second shoulder 106 that is normal to theslot 92. The connector parts 94 have clip portions 108 and 110 thatengage, respectively, the wire conductor and insulating portion ofconductors 112.

The connecting parts 94 may be assembled within the insulator 90 byfirst passing conductors 112 through slots 92 and then securing theconnector parts 94 to the conductors 112. The conductors 112 and theconnecting parts 94 may then be pulled through slots 92 until downwardlystruck lugs 100 engage the shoulder 104 of insulator 90. In thisposition the lug 102 on connecting part 94 engages the shoulder 106 ofinsulator 90. The lug 100 of connecting part 94 is of suflicientresiliency so that the insulator is tightly gripped between lug 100 andlug 102 when the connecting part 94 is assembled within the insulator90. When the connecting parts 94 are all secured to the insulator 90,the insulator may be pushed into the counter bore 88 of insulator 74with the portions 96 of connectors 94 engaging the connector tabs 86that are secured to con ductors 82. It should be noted that the slots 84in insulator 90 are arranged so that two slots of each insulator areparallel to one another while the transverse axis of the third slot isnormal to the transverse axes of the two top slots that are parallel toone another. This arrangement is provided so that a connection betweentabs 86 and connector parts 94 can only be made when the insulators 74and 90 are at some fixed predetermined angular relationship with oneanother. Thus, the insulating parts 74 and 90 and the connectorscontained in each part can only be pushed together when the two upperparallel slots and the lower slot are located in alignment. This insuresthat the conductors 112 will always be connected with the correctconductors 82. It will be apparent from the foregoing that all that isneeded for making an electrical connection between conductors 112 andthe heating elements contained within heating unit62 is an insertion 4 Iof the insulator 90 within the counter bore 88 of insulator 74. Theconductors 112 may be disconnected from heating unit 62 by a removal ofinsulator 90 from within counter bore 88 of insulator 74. It is to beunderstood that the conductors 112 are connectable with a conventional220-volt three-wire supply system.

While the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes apreferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might beadopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a top surface heating unit for a range or the like,having aspirally shaped tubular sheath portion enclosing a heatingelement, said tubular sheath portion having an end portion formed withan integral outwardly directed grease deflecting flange, an insulatorremovably secured to said tubular sheath portion and abutting saidflange, said insulator having a longitudinally extending slot and anannular shoulder engaging said tubular sheath flange, a relatively stitfconductor connected with said heating element and projecting from saidtubular sheath portion into said slot, a connector tab secured to saidconductor and lying in said slot, and means adapted to be connected witha voltage supply and slidably engaging said connector tab for connectingsaid heating element with said voltage supply when said tab and saidmeans are in engagement and for disconnecting said heating element fromsaid voltage supply when said tab and said means are out of engagement.

2. In combination, a heating unit having a tubular sheath enclosing aheating element, said tubular sheath having an end portion formed withan integral outwardly directed circumferentially extending flange, anelectrical conductor connected to said heating element and extendingfrom said end portion, and an insulator enclosing said electricalconductor and said flange, and means for removably securing saidinsulator to said tubular sheath, said insulator having an internalshoulder that abuts a face of said flange when said insulator is securedto said tubular sheath.

' 3. In combination, a heating unit having a tubular sheath enclosing anelectrical heating element, said tubular sheath having an end portionformed with an outwardly directed circumferentially extending flange, anelectrical conductor connected to said heating element and extendingfrom the end portion of said tubular sheath, an insulator member havingan internal shoulder enclosing said conductor, the internal shoulder ofsaid insulator member abutting said outwardlydirected flange, a washerencircling said tubular sheath, a resilient sealing member encirclingsaid sheath and interposed between said washer and flange, and fastenermeans engaging said washer and insulator member for fastening saidwasher and tubular sheath to said insulator member and for compressingsaid resilient sealing member between said washer and said flange.

4. In combination, a heating unit having a tubular sheath enclosing anelectrical heating element, said tubular sheath having an end portionformed with an outwardly directed circumferentially extending flange, anelectrical conductor having a connector tab connected to said heatingelement and extending from an end portion of said tubular sheath, aninsulator enclosing said conductor and tab, said insulator abutting saidoutwardly directed flange, an insulator supporting member encirclingsaid tubular sheath and slidable thereon, a resilient sealing memberencircling said sheath and interposed between said insulator supportingmember and said flange, fastener means engaging said insulatorsupporting member and said insulator for fastening together saidinsulator supporting member and said insulator and for holding saidtubular sheath and resilient member in abutting relationnamed insulatorslidably fitting together with said electrical contact engaging saidconnector tab.

5 In combination, a heating unit having a metal tubular sheath enclosinga heating element, an electrical conductor connected with said heatingelement and extending from an end portion of said tubular sheath, aninsulator having an annular internal wall enclosing said electricalconductor with the annular wall encircling at least a portion of saidtubular sheath, fastening means for securing said insulator to saidtubular sheath, and a flexible sealing member interposed between saidtubular sheatl and said insulator and abutting said inner annular wall.

6. In combination, a heating unit having a tubular sheath enclosing aheating element, said tubular sheath having an end portion formed withan integral outwardly directed circumferentially extending flange, aninsulator mounting member encircling said tubular sheath, an insulatorremovably secured to said insulator mounting member, and a resilientsealing member encircling said tubular sheath and interposed betweensaid insulator mounting member and said flange.

7. In combination, an electrical heating unit having a tubular sheathenclosing a heating element, an electrical conductor connected to saidheating element and extending from an end portion of said tubularsheath, said tubular sheath being formed with an integral outwardlydirected circumferentially extending flange, an insulator supportingmember encircling said tubular sheath, an insulator member abutting saidflange and enclosing said electrical eonductor, an annular resilientsealing member encircling said tubular sheath and located between saidoutwardly directed flange and said insulator supporting member, andfastener means engaging said insulator and insulator supporting memberfor holding said insulator and insulator supporting member in fixedrelationship with said tubular sheath and for compressing said annularsealing member between said flange and said insulator supporting member.

8. In combination, a generally spirally shaped electrical heating unithaving a tubular sheath enclosing an electrical heating element, saidtubular sheath having an end portion formed with an integral outwardlydirected circumferentially extending flange, an electrical conductorhaving a connector tab connected to said heating element and extendingfrom said end portion of said tubular sheath, an insulator enclosingsaid conductor and tab, said insulator abutting said outwardly directedflange, an insulator supporting member encircling said tubular sheath, arubber sealing member encircling said sheath and interposed between saidinsulator supporting member and said flange, a plurality of threadedfasteners threaded into said insulator supporting member and engagingsaid insulator for fastening together said insulator supporting memberand said insulator and for holding said tubular sheath and resilientmember in abutting relationship with said insulator, and a secondinsulator having an electrical contact, said second insulator and saidfirst-named insulator slidably fitting together with said electricalcontact engaging said connector tab.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,440,279 Larkins Apr. 27, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 598,127 Great BritainFeb. 11, 1948

